Sizing and Energy Management in an Islanded DC Microgrid

As the demand for renewable energy increases, microgrids (MGs) are emerging as a key solution for delivering reliable and sustainable power. A crucial aspect of microgrid development is optimal design, which involves siting and sizing generation, storage, and distribution components to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. This study focuses on an islanded DC microgrid that integrates wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries, and a diesel generator. A bi-objective optimization approach is used to achieve two key goals: 1- Cost Reduction: Minimizing total costs, including gas consumption, operational expenses, and emissions. 2- Autonomy: Maximizing the use of renewable energy sources, including wind, PV, and battery storage. To determine the optimal size, 41 scenarios are analyzed, and the Euclidean distance equation is used to identify the optimal scenario and corresponding sizing parameters. These parameters are then applied to the microgrid, followed by the implementation of an energy management strategy to optimize resource scheduling. The problem is formulated as a Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model and solved using the BARON solver. The results indicate that scenario 34 is the optimal solution, with a PV surface area (SPV) of 2285.22 m2, a wind turbine radius (RWT) of 8.961 m, and a battery capacity ( 𝛯B) of 1090.839 kWh. This confirms that the optimized microgrid enhances energy independence, efficiently meets demand, and significantly reduces gas consumption, operational costs, and emissions.